William (Willie) Brown

Monday, June 8, 2020 4:08 pm

William (Willie) Brown, 79, of Decorah, passed away Monday, June 1, 2020, at Barthell Eastern Star Home.  He lived courageously these past few years with the many challenges of Parkinson’s disease. He was surrounded by loved ones at the time of his passing.

A Celebration of Life and Memory was at 11 a.m. Monday, June 8, at Decorah Lutheran Church, with Rev. Peter Kowitz officiating. Organist was Daryl Hansmeier. Soloist was Larry Monson and Jim Womeldorf.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like memorials given to the following organizations: Winneshiek Medical Center Hospice; Decorah Lutheran Church; Barthell Eastern Star Home; Parkinson’s Foundation @ Parkinson.org.

Willie was born Aug. 9, 1940, to Ned and Emma (Brynsaas) Brown, the youngest of seven children and lived his entire life in the Decorah area. He was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church of Decorah. He graduated from Decorah High School in 1959, where he met his sweetheart, Karen Grindeland. Willie and Karen married at St. John’s Lutheran Church Dec. 8, 1962, in Locust and began their life together.  Over the next 57 years, they were by each other’s side every step of the way.

After high school, Willie started working for Norman Berge of Berge, Inc., a local residential and commercial construction business. Norman saw in Willie a bright young man with a great work ethic and mentored him in running the business. In 1979, Willie and Karen bought the construction business from him and created Brown Builders, Inc. Willie took great pride in building a business around quality craftsmanship and service. He felt it was an honor and a privilege to work on remodeling and building people’s homes and businesses.

Throughout his life, Willie was an active member of Decorah Lutheran Church. He shared his time and talents wherever needed – from waiting tables at the Nordic Fest dinner to serving on the building committee and a term as church council president. He also gave back to the community as a member of the Decorah Rotary Club for 31 years – from building Nordic Fest floats to serving a term as the president of the Rotary Club. During his time as a Rotarian, he was honored by receiving two Paul Harris Fellows, the highest honor bestowed by Rotary International.

Willie enjoyed the outdoors and took his family on many camping and canoeing adventures. In his retirement he enjoyed his annual fishing trip with friends to Lake of the Woods. He always loved working with his hands whether it was a woodworking project like a Norwegian chest for someone to rosemale or carving Norwegian figurines. He also enjoyed watching or reading a good western and solving Sudoku puzzles. He loved his family deeply and was very proud of each of them. His family will remember him as a man of few words, with a gentle soul and a witty personality.

Willie is survived by his wife, Karen; children: Todd (Jonel) Brown, Pam (Dean) Haugen, Cindy (Klint) Kjeldahl; grandchildren: Nick (Lynne) Brown, Matt (fiancé, Amanda Witzlib) Brown, Lucas Brown, Aly Haugen, Lars Haugen, Kyra Kjeldahl and Anna Kjeldahl; brother, Harris (Theo) Brown; sisters: Dorothy Brooks, Lorraine Severson, Shirley Schick and Sadie (Bob) Sersland; sisters-in-law, Joanne Helland and Linda (Tom) Johnson; along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ned and Emma (Brynsaas) Brown; sister, Harriet (Les) Leidahl; father and mother-in-law, Kenneth and Edna (Wendling) Grindeland; sister-in-law, Clara Brown; brothers-in-law: Bill Brooks, Elmer Severson, Carl Schick and Paul Helland.

Willie’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Orbell Hall, Ron and Sue Borsheim, Scott and Angie Herrmann, Barthell Eastern Star Home, Winneshiek Medical Center Hopsice, Loving Touch, Dr. Flinchbaugh and so many other family members and friends for the prayers, caring concern and the many acts of kindness that have been extended to them during this difficult journey.